Blog

A local sportsman by the name of L.L. Bean started his business in September 1912 in Freeport, ME, by mailing out 1,000 three-page flyers advertising his distinctive rubber-bottomed boots to out-of-state sportsmen applying for hunting licenses in Maine.

Service might be in its name, but transportation is a major part of its game. If there was ever any doubt about how essential transportation is to the U.S. Postal Service’s operations, take a look at the list of the USPS’ top suppliers for fiscal year 2016.

The image of the auditor sitting in front of a stack of spreadsheets, with a trusty calculator at the ready, is right out of central casting. So is the investigator on round-the-clock surveillance to uncover fraud or misuse of government funds.

Those techniques have their place, of course, but today’s audits and investigations rely heavily on data analytics and risk models. At the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General (OIG), we have invested in building an analytical, evidence-based culture that depends on data to promote efficiency and effectiveness in government.

There are many ways to cut costs. Ask any company that has tried to reduce costs. Or even look at your own household situation. You can cut down on take-out dinners, cancel a vacation, or drop a gym membership you aren’t using anyway. But at a certain point, you realize some costs are just not in your control. You can’t do much about what the utility company charges you or what it costs to fix your car when it breaks down.

“Why is marketing for print magazines so outdated?” an industry blog asked after receiving a direct mail offer from a major news magazine that featured all the pizzazz of, well, a 1990s direct mail piece.

Latest Blog Posts

Small purchases can add up. That’s certainly the case with the government’s purchase card program, which provides charge cards to more than 350 federal agencies, organizations, and Native American tribal governments.

Two times a year, we publish a report of our work and activities for a just-ended six-month period. This Semiannual Report to Congress (or SARC, as we affectionately call it) is required by law, but it’s also a chance for us to share our record of work with our many stakeholders.

Do you mail in your tax returns? Have you ever received a summons for jury duty? If so, it’s likely you’ve sent or received Certified Mail — a special service from the U.S. Postal Service that provides proof of mailing to the sender.

Latest Audit Asks

The Postal Service plays a role in the American democratic process by processing and delivering election and political mail through its network of 227 mail processing facilities. Election mail includes official items such as voter registration requests and absentee or mail-in ballots. Political...

A domestic end product is a product mined or produced in the United States or a product whose component costs are more than 50 percent procured within the United States. When purchasing supplies, the U. S. Postal Service must evaluate proposals offering other than domestic end products.

With its vast network of post offices, the Postal Service has the largest retail network in the country, spanning over 31,000 locations. The experience at retail locations can significantly affect a customer’s view of the Postal Service and likelihood to use it again in the future. USPS...

Comments Wanted

We encourage you to visit our blog, which has a new topic for discussion every Monday. You can also give us your thoughts and opinions about upcoming audits on our Audit Asks page. Please refer to our comment policy for further information.